Measure.



No. 820,448- PATENTED MAY 15, 1906. T. L. TURPIN.

MEASURE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1905.

Inventor.

Attorneys THOMAS L. TURPIN, OF AUBREY, TEXAS.

MEASURE.

Specification of Letters Ifatent.

Iratented May 15, 1906.

Application filed November 22,1906. Serial No. 288,564.

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. TURPIN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Aubrey, in the county of Denton and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Measure, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to measuring instruments, and has for an object to provide a device of the class embodying new and improved features of adaptability, convenience, accuracy, and simplicity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a measuring instrument of improved form adaptable to a larger variety of pur poses, but especially adapted to drafting rafters for buildings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a measuring instrument by the use of which the width of the building and the rise of the rafters being given the length of the rafters and the several angular cuts may be almost instantly determined and the instrument set to project the necessary lines.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the measuring instrument in front elevation and operative position. Fig. 2 is a view of the instrument in rear elevation and operative position. Fig. 3 is a view of the measure in front elevation and partly closed. Fig. 4 is a view of the instrument in front elevation closed. Fig. 5 is a view of the measure closed and in edge elevation. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the slide. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the method of drafting rafters with the improved measuring instrument.

Like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

In its preferred embodiment the improved measuring instrument forming the subjectmatter of this application comprises a bar 10, provided with a longitudinal slot 11, extending throughout the greater part of its length. To one corner of one end of the bar 10, which Will be called the top, is pivoted the blade 12 by the pivot 13,upon whichis aknurled binding-nut 14. The blade 12 has a slot 15 extending longitudinally throughout the greater part of its length, and therein is slidably mounted a pin 10, upon which is pivoted the brace-piece 17, which is provided with a slot 18, extending throughout the greater part of its length. When in operative relation, the brace-piece crosses the bar 10 and a rivet 19 extends through the slots 11 and 18 and is provided with a knurled binding-nut 20.

Upon the bar 10 and below the pivot 19 is a slide 21, having a slot 22 positioned and proportioned to slidably embrace the pivot 19 under the nut 20 and having a loop 23 embracing the bar and so proportioned that when the pivot 19 is within the slot 22 the edge 24 is exactly perpendicular to the bar.

The bar and brace are respectively provided along their normally adjacent edges with graduated and numbered scales 25 and 26, while the blade is provided along its outer edge with a scale 27, the graduations of all the scales being similar. The graduations may be of any desired length; but for convenience in various uses it is preferable to graduate according to some standard system, as inches or centimeters.

To use the instrument in drafting rafters, the extent of the building to be roofed being of course known, one-half the dimensions in feet is laid off on the brace-bar by using an equal number of graduate spaces. The rise of the rafters being next determined in feet a number of spaces equal thereto is laid off on the bar and the two determined points brought together at the point of union of the respective adjacent sides. The slide is then moved up to embrace the pivot 19 within the slot 22 and the edge of the bracebar against the edge 24, which squares the brace and the bar. The binding-nut 20 is then tightened and the bar and brace rigidly secured perpendicular to each other, with the bar indicating the rise and the brace onehalf the width of the building. With the bar and brace so positioned the brace will indicate on the blade the exact length of the rafter in feet and fractions from the ridge to the plate, and the instrument may be rendered still more rigid by tightening the binding-nut 14.

As indicated in Fig. 7, the instrument is applied, as at A, and a mark projected along bar 10 for the ridge-bevel. The number of feet indicated by the blade are then laid off on the timber and the instrument applied, as at B, and a mark projected along the brace 17 for the plate-bevel. The eave width is then laid off and the instrument applied, as at C, and a mark projected along the bar 10 for the final cutting off.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the instrument is adjusted for a building thirty-six feet wide with a rise of eighteen feet, and, as indicated,

the length of the rafter is at once determined as twenty-five and one-half feet.

The use of the instrument in laying off staircase, string-boards, and other purposes will be readily apparent.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A measuring instrument comprising a slotted bar, a slotted blade pivoted to one end thereof, a slotted brace extending across the bar and blade, said brace being slidable for the greater part of its length upon the bar, adjustable binding means within the registering portions of the slots in the bar and brace, a non-rotatable slide upon the bar and having one edge at right angles to the edge of the bar, said slide having a slot open at one end for receiving the binding means,

said brace adapted to bind against the edge of the slide and to be held at right angles to the bar by said edge.

2. A measuring instrument comprising a bar longitudinally slotted, a longitudinallyslotted blade pivoted to one end of the bar, a screw to clamp the blade and bar at a pivotal adjustment, a longitudinally-slotted bracepiece provided at one end with a pivot-pin slidably engaged within the slot of the blade and extending across the bar, a pivot-pin extending through the slots of the bar and brace-piece, a slide mounted upon the bar 'and provided with a slot positioned to embrace the pivot through the bar and brace and having a surface to contact with and by which the brace may be adjusted at a perpendicular to the bar and a screw upon the pivot and arranged to clamp the brace-piece and slide firmly upon the box.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS L. TURPIN.

Witnesses:

A. W. WALKER, OHAs. MAYS. 

